The Sentencing Project recently released a new report, “Youth Justice By the Numbers” which found that the number of youth held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 108,800 to 27,600 between 2000 and 2022 — a 75% decline.
Public opinion often lags behind these realities, wrongly assuming both that crime is perpetually increasing and that youth offending is routinely violent.
But in fact, most youth offenses are low-level, nonviolent offenses and the 21st century has witnessed significant declines in youth offending, arrests, and incarceration.
The report found that:
Youth of color are much more likely than white youth to be held in juvenile facilities.
In 2021, Black youth were 4.7 times as likely to be incarcerated; Tribal youth were 3.7 times as likely; and Latino youth were 16% as likely than white youth to be incarcerated. Asian youth were the least likely to be held in juvenile facilities.
White youth are more likely to be diverted from formal court involvement. And when convicted, white youth are more likely to receive probation or informal sanctions, whereas Black youth are more likely to be incarcerated.
The arrest rate for people under 18 years old has declined 80% through 2020, since peaking in 1996.
Juvenile placement rates vary widely among states. The highest is Wyoming, where 269 out of 100,000 youth are in placement; the lowest is Vermont, where 0 out of 100,000 youth are held.
Between 1997 and 2022, there was an 84% drop in the number of youth held in adult jails and prisons.
Youth incarceration damages adolescents’ wellbeing on multiple dimensions. There are far more effective alternatives to incarceration that achieve lower recidivism and lead to positive lifetime outcomes.
However, we must address the racial and ethnic disparities that persist in the youth justice system.
For more information, visit sentencingproject.org.
Public opinion often lags behind these realities, wrongly assuming both that crime is perpetually increasing and that youth offending is routinely violent.
But in fact, most youth offenses are low-level, nonviolent offenses and the 21st century has witnessed significant declines in youth offending, arrests, and incarceration.
The report found that:
Youth of color are much more likely than white youth to be held in juvenile facilities.
In 2021, Black youth were 4.7 times as likely to be incarcerated; Tribal youth were 3.7 times as likely; and Latino youth were 16% as likely than white youth to be incarcerated. Asian youth were the least likely to be held in juvenile facilities.
White youth are more likely to be diverted from formal court involvement. And when convicted, white youth are more likely to receive probation or informal sanctions, whereas Black youth are more likely to be incarcerated.
The arrest rate for people under 18 years old has declined 80% through 2020, since peaking in 1996.
Juvenile placement rates vary widely among states. The highest is Wyoming, where 269 out of 100,000 youth are in placement; the lowest is Vermont, where 0 out of 100,000 youth are held.
Between 1997 and 2022, there was an 84% drop in the number of youth held in adult jails and prisons.
Youth incarceration damages adolescents’ wellbeing on multiple dimensions. There are far more effective alternatives to incarceration that achieve lower recidivism and lead to positive lifetime outcomes.
However, we must address the racial and ethnic disparities that persist in the youth justice system.
For more information, visit sentencingproject.org.
